Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - New rider, stripped crank :(

I bought my Mercier Kilo TT about a month ago and absolutely love this bike. This past weekend i was riding when i felt my left pedal drop. Looking at the damage, the crank is absolutely stripped. I talked to my LBS and they gave me a couple of options:
1. Heli-Coil for $25 with no guarantee it will last that long, or that it will even work. they also told me that with a heli-coil i couldnt be skidding or doing tricks, which is half of my fun.
2. Order the replacement left crank from some distributor they called, it would be a different color from my right side, and would run me nearly $40 with shipping
3. Order a whole new crankset, most likely a new bottom bracket, and have them install it. depending on the crankset i purchase i'm looking at anywhere from $60-$100+

Just figured i would join this forum and ask for your more experienced advice. BTW the crankset currently on the bike is a Truvativ Touro, so if anyone does have a left crank sitting around from an upgrade or whatnot i would love to purchase it. I'm a broke college student so money is relatively tight. Thanks ahead of time for your responses.

is this the side with the chainring or the single one?

The single one.

OP said it's the left side, meaning the non drive side.

I would just get a new set of cranks, EighthInch (http://www.cyclingcloseouts.com/Products/EighthInch-Crankset-in-Black__Eighthinch_Crankset.aspx) would be a very economical choice and Shimano UN54. (http://www.cyclingcloseouts.com/Products/Shimano-UN54-68x107mm-BB__CR5366.aspx)

Also, if you can, find a bike co-op in your area, you'll learn to how to install them and the price would be much cheaper than installing at a shop.

Also, if you can, find a bike co-op in your area, you'll learn to how to install them and the price would be much cheaper than installing at a shop.
+1. Replacing a crankset is actually pretty easy to do.

I can vouch for eighthinch cranks. You won't get any style points or jealous friends, but you will get a crankset that works for less than fifty bucks. I've had mine for about a year and a half, probably 1000+ miles, and it still works fine. I am now putting it on my beater/grocery getter because I'm upgrading the crankset on my fixed gear, and still expect to put many more miles on my old crankset.

Eighthinch won't work because they are for square tapered BBs and the stock BB on a Kilo is splined.

EDIT: Nvm, I didn't see that Vixtor posted a BB as well.

On a month old bike, I figure that's a warrantable item ? Per Bike Direct, check and tighten after every ride ? I guess that's standard ?

Crankset TruVativ Touro aluminum arms, 130 BCD, 48T PowerSpline
(please tighten and check prior to every ride)
Bottom Bracket Sealed Cartridge 108mm PowerSpline

http://officespam.chattablogs.com/archives/Computer-Error-Replace-User.jpg

Sounds like it's the pedal threads that are stripped. Since it's a left-hand thread it can't be helicoiled anyway. If you get a new BB, get one with a steel left side (non-drive adjustable) cup, instead of a UN54, which is plastic. Price for a Tange or RPM / Sugino will be about the same as Shimano.

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=188_247_680&products_id=3282

Spindle being chromolly, it's most likely the aluminum arm interfaces, probably really only need just the arm. Can't believe the earth is flat and nobody has an economical replacement, aluminum being recycle-able I would think TruVativ would send one under warranty with an RMA to return the POS arm ? That chromolly being significantly harder chewed up the inside of the arm.

You can get replacement arms (http://aebike.com/product/truvativ-left-isoflow-powerspline-175mm-crank-arm-black-sku-cr2263-qc30.htm) for not very much money, but I can only find 175mm arms at the moment.

Someone could probably make a lotta money selling a comprehensive stock of replacement single crank arms.



For example, if anyone knows where I can get a 167.5mm NDS Miche Primtato crank arm...

Exactly.

I'm pretty sure if you contacted Bikesdirect they would send you a new arm.

Picking up an eightinch crankset from a LBS :)

Are you the guy who posted on the Sacramento Craig's List about wanting a new crank? If so, where did you pick up the new crank?

Sounds like it's the pedal threads that are stripped. Since it's a left-hand thread it can't be helicoiled anyway.
Sure you can (http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=359719162220&d=single&c=Tools&sc=Crank&tc=Thread-Repair&item_id=CU-017), but the equipment ain't cheap. Perhaps your LBS already has this kit?

Or you could try this instead: http://www.cheapbikeparts360.com/products/eldi-pedal-tapbushing-kit/

Are you the guy who posted on the Sacramento Craig's List about wanting a new crank? If so, where did you pick up the new crank?

Yes I am! There is shop opening on 17th and T called pedal hard. They are opening this weekend supposably but were nice enough to meet me and sell me the crankset.